Swansea City bounced back after defeat in midweek with a 3-2 victory over Norwich City - their first win at home in five Championship games.
Zan Vipotnik scored two spectacular goals and his performance pleased Swansea head coach Alan Sheehan, who believes he is improving with each outing.
With eight goals so far, is Vipotnik the man to fire Swansea up the table?
Image source, Getty ImagesZan Vipotnik caught the eye with two spectacular goals as Swansea City saw off visitors Norwich City on Saturday.
The Slovenia target man scored either side of Jovo Makama's goal for the Canaries to secure a 2-1 win, and with it a welcome first victory at home in five league games to keep Swansea 13th in the Championship.
Vipotnik's performance particularly pleased Swansea head coach Alan Sheehan, who believes he is improving with each outing.
"I don't have a good-ometer, but they [the goals] were really, really good finishes, top class, excellent," Sheehan said.
"He was a livewire today, he led the line. At times, out of possession, there's things that we want more from him, to be relentless within that because he's the one who leads that first line of pressure.
"But in terms of scoring goals - and ultimately those were two moments of real quality - and that clinical edge that we have been missing in certain games.
"But he was exceptional, they're high-level goals, and you've seen a player that's really enjoying his football."
Swansea signed Vipotnik in August 2024 on a four-year contract following the mutual termination of his contract with Bordeaux.
The striker scored seven goals in 51 games last season in all competitions, but the brace against Norwich means the 23-year-old has already hit nine this campaign for club and country.
"When players come from different leagues, it takes different players different times for it to gel," Sheehan added.
"Like [Eom] Ji-Sung for example, like Zeidane [Inoussa], sometimes it will be hot and cold until it's permanently hot, and it's about integrating them into that.
"With VP (Vipotnik) he was up and down last year really, and then he came back fitter. He missed a pre-season with Bordeaux last year and he came in and probably we didn't see the best of him consistently, if you want to say.
"But then this year, he missed little bits of pre-season, but he was in a better place and he understood what he had to do, and he looks really well right now."
Image source, Getty ImagesAfter three years and 112 appearances for Swansea City, Harry Darling returns to Wales this weekend in Norwich City colours.
Had Alan Sheehan got his way, Darling would still be part of his Swansea squad.
As it is, Sheehan is trying to find a way to ensure Darling and his colleagues in the Norwich defence endure a difficult afternoon at the Swansea.com Stadium on Saturday (15:00 BST).
After only one win in their past seven league games, Swansea could do with a positive result.
If they are to make it happen, they must find more attacking inspiration having struggled going forward against Queens Park Rangers in midweek and at Southampton last weekend.
In truth, Swansea's attacking prowess has been an issue for much of the season.
Only three Championship clubs have scored fewer league goals than Swansea in 2025-26, while Sheehan's men have the second lowest overall XG in the division.
"We want to get that formula, be more clinical, be more ruthless and have that freedom in the final third to express ourselves," Sheehan said.
"I think at times we get into these great areas and sometimes the quality lets us down.
"In terms of getting there, that's not really an issue. It is that last bit, sticking the ball in the net, crosses, landing on something."
Image source, Getty ImagesDarling has been a regular for Norwich since turning down the offer of a new contract at Swansea in the summer in favour of a three-year deal at Carrow Road.
But things have not gone according to plan so far this season, with the Canaries dropping into the bottom three after suffering a fourth successive defeat at Derby County in midweek.
Norwich's home form has been the biggest issue, with six defeats from six on their own patch in all competitions this season.
They have been better on the road, taking eight points from six away league games, though their most recent win was on 30 August.
While Sheehan's Swansea could do with a result, the need looks even greater for Norwich boss Liam Manning.
Norwich City will look to stop the rot when they visit Swansea City on Saturday (15:00 BST).
The Canaries have failed to win any of their past seven games, losing the last four in succession, to place themselves in the bottom three.
Though Swansea have not won in their past three and will also be keen to find that elusive victory.
Swansea City have lost just one of their last five league games against Norwich City (W3 D1), though that sole defeat did come in their last such meeting, a 5-1 loss at Carrow Road in January this year.
Norwich City have lost five of their last seven away league games against Swansea City (W2), failing to score in four of those defeats.
Swansea are winless across their last five home league games (D3 L2); their longest run since December 2023 (6 games – D3 L3).
Norwich have lost each of their last four league games in succession, last losing five in a row in the Championship in November 2016.
Norwich have failed to score in three of their last four league games, and could fail to score in three successive matches for the first time since May 2022 (run of four).
Image source, Huw Evans AgencySwansea City host Queens Park Rangers on Wednesday (19:45 BST) with Alan Sheehan believing the Championship has not yet "settled down" this season.
Swansea will be close to a quarter of the way through the 2025-26 campaign after their meeting with Rangers.
But in a division which looks more open than has been the case in recent years, Sheehan believes the majority of clubs are still buoyed by early-season optimism.
"You go through the results most weeks in this league - it's not settled down," Swansea's head coach said.
"I think the floor of the league is slightly higher this year with the competition, while there's probably 15 teams within the league that think that if they make a push, they can be in a decent place.
"It's a really competitive league."
Swansea and are among the clubs hoping there are good times ahead having made solid starts to the season.
Image source, Getty ImagesRangers began slowly, taking only one point from their first three games under new boss Julien Stephan (pictured above), but then embarked on a six-match unbeaten run which included four victories.
That rousing sequence came to a halt last weekend as they were beaten 2-1 at home by Millwall.
Swansea, meanwhile, have struggled for consistency, winning three, drawing four and losing three of their league matches this season.
"Every game that you go into right now, you're coming up against teams – both us and them - where they feel like if they get it right, they can win the game, so the competition is good," Sheehan added.
"QPR's games are very tight all the time. It's a difficult game, but one that obviously we want to be going in and getting points from."
Image source, Huw Evans Picture AgencyManuel Benson is a doubt for Swansea City's Championship meeting with Queens Park Rangers on Wednesday (19:45 BST).
The on-loan Burnley winger was absent from last weekend's goalless draw at Southampton and could again miss out as Swansea return home to face QPR.
Sheehan has few other concerns, though Zeidane Inoussa is among a handful of players nursing knocks following the Saints draw.
"A few guys have niggles, obviously Manuel missed the game the other day with a tight hamstring and so we'll have to have a look at that," Swansea's head coach said.
"Zeidane and one or two more just picked up little bumps so we'll make a decision ahead of the game."
Sheehan is likely to consider making some changes to freshen his team up, who will be in action at home when Norwich City visit this Saturday.
They also host Manchester City in the EFL Cup on Wednesday, 29 November as part of a run of seven games in 21 days.
Queens Park Rangers will look to bounce back from their London derby defeat as they cross the border to visit Swansea City on Wednesday (19:45 BST).
The Hoops conceded their first home loss under boss Julien Stephen when Millwall took a 2-1 victory at Loftus Road on the weekend.
But the side have fared better than any other Championship team on the road in recent times and with Swansea finding themselves in a bit of a tricky spell, the visitors could find themselves keeping in contention with the promotion contenders.
Swansea City completed a league double over QPR last season; only from August 2012 to December 2014 have they ever won three league meetings in a row over the London club.
QPR have won three of their last five league visits to Swansea (L2), although lost this exact fixture last season 3-0.
Swansea are winless in four home league games (D3 L1), last going longer without victory between October and December 2023 (6).
Since the start of April, no side has earned more away points in the Championship than QPR (16 – P8 W5 D1 L2).
QPR have won eight of their last 11 away league games against Welsh clubs (D1 L2), including four of their last five (L1). They've kept seven clean sheets during that time.
Image source, Huw Evans Picture AgencyHead coach Alan Sheehan called for more creativity from his side after Saturday's goalless draw at Southampton - but will it be enough to forge a promotion push.
Heading into the midweek visit of Queens Park Rangers, Swansea are 13th in the Championship - four points below the play-offs.
We asked supporters if they thought the Swans are genuine top-six contenders.
Here's a selection of your responses.
Nigel: No. Without a prolific goal scorer and right back. The squad still lacks quality in options. Midtable at best.
Richard: I really cannot see the Swans finishing in the playoffs. They were lucky not to concede at Southampton who hit the bar and post - and yet again we didn't score. As I have said in the past, a top-half finish is more realistic unless the Swans start scoring more.
Robert: We appear to have a strong squad on paper, however are we not being clinical enough in the final third. If we improve on this in the coming months then we have a chance. If not then it will be another season finishing middle of the table.
Alex: Absolutely not! Still lacking in the final third. Is it me, or have we gone to a long ball style now?
Joel: I think the next two games would prove that. If they're both convincing home wins, Swansea will be capable of targeting top six. Creating chances is the final thing that needs to mastered, as we've already proven that when they are created, we have clinical goalscorers (looking at you Vipotnik!).
Clare: The squad is capable of gaining promotion but is Sheehan the right man to take us forward?
David: Yes. Great manager, squad and supporters who back the team. Nicely positioned to move on.
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Swansea City head coach Alan Sheehan reflects on his side's 0-0 draw with Southampton in the Championship.
Match report: Southampton frustrated in Swansea stalemate
Swansea City are currently 13th in the Championship after their goalless draw against Southampton.
They have now won one Championship game in six and head coach Alan Sheehan says his side "need to create more chances" if they are to improve on their record.
The result leaves them four points from the play-off positions and although it is still early on in the season, are they genuine play-off contenders?
Gareth Vincent
BBC Sport Wales
Image source, Huw Evans Picture AgencyAlan Sheehan insisted he had an unfamiliar feeling as Swansea City emerged with a point at Southampton on Saturday.
It was Swansea's fourth Championship draw this season after Watford (1-1), Hull City (2-2) and Millwall (1-1).
But Southampton was different from the rest, Sheehan argued, because it was the first time his team had not been "massively in the ascendancy".
That is a debatable point given that Watford, Hull and Millwall all gave Swansea problems in stages.
But what is not in question is that this weekend's backs-to-the-wall stalemate at a club who were in the Premier League last season felt much more like a win for Swansea than any of their three home draws in 2025-26.
Hull, in particular, was galling given that the Tigers equalised following a set-piece in the seventh minute of added time.
Millwall was also irritating for Swansea given that they were in front only to concede a set-piece goal seconds before half-time.
Image source, Huw Evans Picture AgencyBut the fact is that Swansea might have beaten Watford, Hull and Millwall had they produced more quality in the final third – and that has been a common issue throughout this season.
Sheehan's Swansea side have been largely solid, but improvement going forward is required if they are to mount a play-off push this season.
The need for better was highlighted at Southampton, where home goalkeeper Alex McCarthy eased through one of the quietest afternoons he will have all season.
"We need to get to a place where we are more fluent when we are attacking and we are creating more chances," Sheehan acknowledged.
"At times this season we have done it with ease. We've got into wonderful positions and left some points behind."
But not at Southampton. After Saturday's point gained, Swansea's attention turns to successive home league fixtures against Queens Park Rangers and Norwich City.
The expectation for Sheehan's team will be to offer much more going forward in each of those games.
Image source, Huw Evans Picture AgencyAlan Sheehan felt Swansea City "showed another side" of their capabilities as they held on for a point at Southampton.
Saints dominated Swansea but wasted a host of big chances, most notably when Caspar Jander struck the post from point-blank range late on.
Swansea created almost nothing going forward, but Sheehan hailed his team's efforts as their resilience combined with Southampton's wastefulness saw the Welsh club come away from St Mary's with a positive result.
"We haven't had many games like this. All the draws we've had have felt like losses because we've been massively in the ascendancy," Swansea's head coach said.
"In fairness, I think this is a good point. With the ball we didn't create anywhere enough. We turned it over in bad areas and we tried to get a breather on the ball instead of hurting them.
"But in terms of a defensive display, going to the very end, I think this is the resilience and type of character you need in this league.
"You need to be able to show that side. We knew it was going to be difficult and we have shown another side to us today."
Image source, Huw Evans Picture AgencySwansea had seven shots compared to Southampton's 21, while the home side's XG was 3.26 compared to only 0.21 for Sheehan's men.
The draw means Swansea have won only once in six league games – though that run includes just two defeats – and remain mid-table in the Championship.
"We have arguably played better with the ball in most of the games this season and defensively until we tweaked a couple of things, we weren't getting enough pressure on the ball high up the pitch," Sheehan added.
"But I am very proud of the lads because of the resilience they showed and the fact that we have come out of here with a point."
Southampton was the first of seven games in 21 days for Swansea, who return to action with a home fixture against Queens Park Rangers on Wednesday.
Image source, Getty ImagesAlan Sheehan hopes "diamond" Eom Ji-Sung can ignite his season having netted his first goal of the campaign for South Korea during the international break.
The 23-year-old wide midfielder is yet to score in 11 appearances across all competitions for Swansea City this season.
But he got his 2025-26 account up and running with the opener in a 2-0 friendly win over Paraguay.
And Swans head coach Sheehan feels the wideman is closer to reaching his best levels after injury disrupted his pre-season.
"Ji-Sung missed all of pre-season and then it was about getting him up to speed. I think he showed some flashes of the form that he was in last year, especially at the end of the year where he was outstanding," said the Irishman.
"I think he had a good game against Leicester. Then he played, obviously a lot of travelling back, so he's not been on the grass with us yet, so he's on his second day of recovery.
"I don't know the time zones and that, so he'll be back in with us tomorrow (Friday). But absolutely delighted for him to score to give him that confidence and Ji Sung is an excellent player.
"It took him time to adapt to the level which is expected. He's a wonderful person, he's great to work with, he really is.
"He's a diamond of a lad and he is somebody that we have high hopes for and we know that there's definitely more to come from him."
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Swansea City's Josh Tymon reflects on his time at the club and his future.
Sheehan: We’ve left a couple of points behind
Swansea City head coach Alan Sheehan reflects on the international break and looks forward to his side's Championship game at Southampton on Saturday.
